Abstract

This study is to finding out how second language teachers can use music as a method to teaching multilingual students in Swedish as a second language. This study even deals with assets and challenges using music as a method in teaching and learning Swedish as a second language. To answer these questions, data was collected by interviews with three pedagogues who have experiences from teaching in Swedish language with music as a method.

The result shows that music helps multilingual students to learn Swedish as a second language both in an individual level and in a group level. With music you can practice accent, vocal clang, pitch, and rhythmics. Music has a social influence and creates safe atmosphere in the classroom. It even creates a place of meetings between different cultures and generations. This way of working requires a brave, flexible and a direct pedagogue. There are different ways of working with music as a method in second language teaching. The students can translate favorite songs from their homelands and then teach their classmates the same song in both languages. Together you can create your own songs connected to other theoretical subjects in school. The students can shape music and songs by drawing pictures and then let them write texts to their own pictures. What is obvious is that music promotes second language progress.